A hectic August fixture list showed no sign of slowing down as Shepshed Dynamo hit the road with Long Eaton United their destination on Tuesday night. The home side had begun their campaign with a defeat at home to Corby Town but have since turned their fortunes around with two straight victories. Dynamo were eyeing a second consecutive win following a 2-0 victory over Clay Cross in the FA Cup on Saturday.

One change in the Shepshed line-up was made by manager Gary Drake from Saturday’s game. Callum Burkey returned to the centre of midfield to partner Niall Prenderville with Kyle Dixon dropping to the bench. Long Eaton’s starting eleven featured two ex-Shepshed attackers with Jahvan Davidson-Miller and James Shaw looking to get one over their former side.

The home side were first to aim fire at the Dynamo goal. Dexter Walters got the better of full-back Adam Barber before unleashing a powerful drive towards goal. Walters’ effort flew wide of the post with just four minutes played.

Shepshed came to life on 21 minutes as striker Dylan Reason found space in the 18-yard box. The attacker beat his man and struck a low effort from the left of goal 8 yards out. Reason’s effort had goalkeeper Lewis King diving at his near post but the side netting came to the home side’s rescue.

The first goal of the contest arrived at the half hour mark. A through ball from the left managed to part the Dynamo defence with Tristan Thompson-Matthews running in behind. The Long Eaton attacker lifted the ball over the head of Wallis from the edge of the 18-yard box to give the home side the lead.

Dynamo heads refused to drop despite the setback and two minutes later, they went on the attack. A long throw from centre-back Declan Peart, by the corner flag, found the head of Dylan Reason at the near post. Once again, Reason’s effort ended up on the wrong side of the post thanks to a fingertip save from King.

The second half began with an energetic Long Eaton looking to put Dynamo to the sword. The dangerous Walters received a pinpoint switch pass from the left and set about trying to beat full-back Adam Barber down the right. Walters took the Dynamo man this way and that before dispatching a cool finish from the right edge of the area across a static Wallis. With 54 minutes played, Shepshed now had a mountain to climb.

Despite Dynamo’s best efforts, they just couldn’t get going and on 67 minutes the home side made it three. Thompson-Matthews bundled his way through centre backs Declan Peart and Chad Timson to slot the ball low inside the near post to make the points safe.

Shepshed, to their credit, did keep on trying to break down a stubborn Long Eaton defence. A 79th minute effort from the right foot of substitute Kyle Dixon from the edge of the box narrowly shaved King’s right-hand post.

The best chance of a consolation came with the last kick of the game. Jude Collins produced good work down the left resulting in a cross that found substitute Josh Allen unmarked. Allen chose power over placement and watched his 10-yard strike sail over King’s crossbar as the final whistle blew.

In a familiar tale of chances being created but not converted, Shepshed will no doubt leave frustrated. Long Eaton’s second 3-0 home win over Dynamo in as many seasons continues their resurgence from the opening day setback. Dynamo are in action on Saturday at home to Racing Club Warwick as Long Eaton face fellow Nottinghamshire high-flyers Carlton Town in a home tie on Bank Holiday Monday.

Dynamo: Wallis, Bayliss (Partridge 34’) , Peart, Timson, Collins, Friend (Allen 75’), Prenderville (May 64’), Barber, Rogers (Atem 77’), Reason (Dixon 64’), Burkey

Long Eaton United: King, Betts, Finnerty, Pace (Atwal 75’), Cotterill, Bucci, Shaw (Horsley 83’), Taylor, Davidson-Miller, Thompson-Matthews, Walters (Gregory 89’)

Attendance: 201